Shopping for Dispute Resolution Services in the Year 2025

We’re amok in information. We know it. We feel it. “90% of data in the world today has been created in the last two years.” (source: IBM) Yet, with intention and considerable effort, you can curate and make sense of information, connect conversations in the data “stream”, and get a feel for what lies ahead. In the field of conflict and dispute resolution, I periodically try do that. Let’s go to the future…

photo by cadencrawford (flickr)

Here’s five trends I see emerging. I see these as much with my gut, as my head. They are the move to personal, appropriate, feminine, visual and singular resolutions.

By 2025, I sense dispute resolution services will be much more:

personal: people, all peoples, will have choice, real choice; the customer will be in charge, assisted by agents (human and/or virtual), who help the customer navigate the vendor/service maze…think vendor (vs. customer) relationship management.

appropriate: service options will be arranged along various continuums: traditional/emergent, immediate/reflective, public/private… The essence of each will be transparently and clearly communicated. Caveat venditor. Seller beware. And, best yet, the customer’s experience will be negotiated.